Mizo bodies play diplomatic cards with ultras

Aizwal, Sep 22 (UNI) In their desperate bid to ensure free and fair polls for the Assembly elections this year, two influential organisations of Mizoram have resorted to diplomacy.

After Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) met the NSCN(IM) leaders, the central Young Mizo Association also met leaders of Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) and Zomi Revolutionary Armyat Manipur's Churachandpur last Saturday appealing them to abstain from the Assembly elections.

The meetings were held under healthy atmosphere, and the underground organisations also reassured us that they had no intention to involve in the upcoming elections, a central YMA source told UNI here today.

A few days back, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church-sponsored MPF had assured the NSCN(IM) that it would ask all militant outfits of the region under its influence not to involve in Mizoram elections.

These underground outfits had allegedly involved in some constituencies during the 2003 elections.

The central YMA had also served a notice a few weeks back to all underground outfits sheltering in the states for free and fair polls.

Meanwhile Congress MLA R Lalzirliana today alleged that the MNF government is still harbouring Hmar underground outfits such as Hmar National Army and Sinlung Tiger Force.

UNI ZS RH KLC1527